TACLOBAN CITY- More than P7.6 billion worth of projects and programs have been approved by the Provincial Development Council(PDC) of Leyte for its annual investment program(AIP) for next year.
The funding of the AIP, which will serve as the basis for the annual budget of the province, will come from its P2 billion annual internal revenue(IRA) as well as funding from government agencies, to include rehabilitation funding due to super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and projected foreign assistance.
The 2018 AIP was approved by the members of the PDC, which is chaired by Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, during their October 2 meeting.
Nex year’’s AIP is higher compare to the current P7.1 billion.
The P7,602,260,934 AIP will then be submitted to the provincial board for its approval.
Petilla said that next year’s AIP includes the required tagging tracking of the climate change expenditures of the programs, activities, and projects in the local budget.
The programs, activities, and projects on the AIP are categorized under the general public services, economic services, and social services.
Under the P7. 6 billion AIP for next year, economic services gets the huge chunk of the budget at P3.94 billion followed by general public services at P1.31 billion; and social services at P1.94 billion.
About P110.2 million has also been earmarked for the special education fund under the 2018 AIP. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Leyte council approves P7.6 B investment plan for 2018
Garbage collector nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Tacloban City
TACLOBAN CITY- Anti-drug elements of the regional Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Unit arrested a garbage collector from this city during a buy-bust operation.
Arrested by the operatives was Noel Balasabas, 31, married and a resident of Barangay 27, Seawall area in a buy-bust Wednesday (Sept.4) at about 9:30 pm in Barangay 66, Paseo de Legaspi.
Purchased and seized during the buy-bust operation were three pieces of a heat-sealed plastic transparent sachet containing suspected shabu weighing 0.3 gram with an estimated market value of P1,500.
Balasabas will be charged for violations of Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and Section 11 (possession of dangerous drugs), Article II of RA 9165.
The suspect is now temporarily detained at PDEA-8 detention facility while waiting for his commitment order. (PR)
City gov’t to install CCTVs to deter crime
TACLOBAN CITY (CIO) – As part of its extensive anti-criminality campaign The City Government of Tacloban under the leadership of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez is set install CCTV (Closed-circuit Television) Cameras in strategic areas around the City; this was announced by City Administrator Atty. Irene Chiu at a Media Conference held to coincide with the Local Government Code Month Celebration at the City DILG Conference Function Hall on Tuesday, October 5.
Representing Mayor Romualdez during the event, Chiu said that the CCTV Cameras , which are targeted to be installed this year, will be equipped with facial detection software that will be helpful in tracking lawless elements. A command and control center will be set up at the City Hall to maintain the operation of the Smart Cameras which will be connected through fiber optic technology.
The City Administrator also announced programs targeted at enhancing the delivery of front-line services of the City Government, such as the Electronic Payment Portal (EPP) – an online payment system for taxpayers and business operators that will be launched within the year.
The City Government is planning to secure an ISO Certification for its Business Permit and Licensing Processes at Kanhuraw Business Center. ISO or the International Standardization Organization is an international organization that promotes world propriety, industrial and commercial standards.
Chiu likewise disclosed that the City government-owned Tacloban City Hospital provides free hospitalization services through its Services Delivery Network (SDN) Program in partnership with the Office of Leyte 1st District Representative Yedda K. Romualdez who earmarked funds for the project.
The event was also attended by City Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Director Atty. Darwin Bibar, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Edgardo Jubay and MIS Head Randy Calahi.
Meantime, Bibar said that the local government code was passed in 1991 to promote autonomy and empower local government units.
He added that it also seeks to highlight the best practices and achievement of LGUs that is worth replicating by other local governments units.
Among the “Best Practices” of the Tacloban LGU are the Tacloban City Rescue Unit (TACRU), the Community Climate Guide and Response (CCGR) and MASA MASID App Text Alert and reporting Systems, and the outpatient Drug Rehabilitation Program – New Beginnings – the first community-based drug rehab program implemented in Region 8 following President Rodrigo R. Duterte War on drugs.
Under Mayor Romualdez, the lone Highly Urbanized City (HUC) in Region 8 was recently named the Most Improved HUC in the country by the National Competitiveness Council. It was also shortlisted for the Presidential Seal for Child Friendly Local Governance and named a qualifier for the Seal of Good Local Governance.
Other activities slated for the month-long Local Government Code Month are the Skills Enhancement Training for Barangay Tanods (Oct 6); Synchronized Barangay Assembly Day (October 8); the Recognition Awards for Punong Barangays, ISO Orientation, and Partnership Forum (October 27). – Henry James G. Roca
DPWH Southern Leyte heightens rainy days preparation
MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte district engineering office is intensifying its works in declogging drainages as one of the measures to prevent flooding in highways during rainy days.
District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said the clearing is necessary to maintain free-flowing ditches, drainage, culverts, and inlets as well as avoid different materials to silt up to reduce flood risks.
“We are in full swing in cleaning up our drainage systems in the city and towns in Southern Leyte especially that rainy season is already here,” Junia added.
Gideon Sacro, maintenance section chief, said this is a regular activity, but it is intensified during “ber” months where rains are more frequent in Eastern Visayas.
“Our instruction to our field personnel is not only to check road damages and control vegetation on roadsides but also clear the drainage system from silt,” Sacro added.
Aside from declogging, the DPWH is also implementing this year the P447 million flood control and slope protection projects to prevent landslides and road slips.
These projects are a reconstruction of national roads with slips, slope collapse and landslides of Maasin-Sogod Road, Liloan-San Ricardo Road, San Ricardo – Bil-atan Road.
Six flood control projects are up for construction in Subang Daku in Sogod town. It is seen as a permanent solution to the problem of overflowing and erosions in Subang Daku River, the largest watercourse in Southern Leyte province. (PR)
Sec. Lorenzana says new Army units will be created; soldiers from EV will be sent home
BORONGAN CITY- Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed that the government is mulling of creating at least 10 new Army battalions.
And with the creation of new battalions, battalions from the region earlier deployed to Mindanao would be sent back to their respective mother units.
Lorenzana made this announcement during his attendance of the 37th meeting of the Samar Island for Peace, Prosperity and Development (SIPPAD) held here Tuesday (Oct.3).
SIPPAD is a group of non-political and multi-sectoral organization spearheaded by the dioceses of Calbayog, Catarman, and Borongan.
Lorenzana said that the creation of the new battalions will further bolster the campaign of the government against terror groups particularly operating in Mindanao.
“There was an imbalance in the past years because some of the troops were sent to Mindanao. But we were able to get approval from the President to increase the population of our soldiers with additional 10,000 more this year,” the Defense Secretary said.
At present, the government is waging months-long battle with the Maute terror group in Marawi City.
Four military battalions from the 8th Infantry Division, based in Catbalogan City, were deployed in Mindanao to help the government campaign against terroristic groups like the Abu Sayyaf and recently the ISIS-inspired Maute group.
These are the 63rd Infantry Battalion (IB); 34th IB, 46th IB, all in Samar provinces and the 19th IB from Leyte.
The deployment of these Army battalions outside the region has raised an alarm from governors, in particular.
They claimed that this would affect the region’s peace and order as it continues to battle with the outlawed New People’s Army. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
PDEA declares over 100 barangays in E. Samar as drug-free
BORONGAN CITY- More than 100 barangays in Eastern Samar have been declared as drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
PDEA assistant provincial officer Josefat Macawile announced this during the October 3 meeting of the SIPPAD (Samar Island for Peace, Prosperity, and Development) held this city.
Macawile said that out of the Eastern Samar 597 barangays covering its 22 towns and this city, 141 have been declared as drug-free as of last month.
“But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the province is already free from illegal drugs.There is still that risk that illegal drug trade and use will return to these drug-cleared villages,” he said.
“It is now the job of the barangay anti-drug abuse council (Badac) to monitor the illegal drug trade situation and status in the respective barangays,” Macawile added.
Badac is headed by the barangay chairman with the village councilor who chairs the committee on peace and order as the vice-chairman.
The members of the committee include the chairman of the committee on women and family, Sangguniang Kabataan, tanod chief, school principal, representatives from non-government organizations and faith-based organizations.
Among its mandate is to formulate, implement, and evaluate programs and projects on drug abuse prevention, gather and update data on all drug-related incidents and its effects to the peace and order situation and submits the monthly report of the city or municipal anti-drug abuse council and refers those suspected of drug using for counseling and rehabilitation.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)